Addendum to the Holy Spirit Article Series (Part 3)

To properly understand the foundational basis and gain a better perspective of this present article, readers are requested to read first the two previous articles in this series, published on this website:

Bible Verses Secretly Tampered in Support of the Trinity — Now Exposed!

Unknown to most Christians today, there are important verses in the Bible that have been secretly tampered with — a fact that has been kept hidden from mass media publication and exposure for hundreds of years, until now…

Most Christians are expectedly too trusting in believing every word they read in the Bible (and rightly so). Thus they are completely unaware about certain secret manipulations or tampering of some Bible verses done hundreds of years ago, to support the doctrinal belief on the Trinity (since there is absolutely no biblical support for such false doctrine whatsoever).

But since the prophet Daniel predicted that knowledge shall increase in these end times, these long-hidden secret manipulations are now being finally revealed and exposed (Daniel 12:4).

Understanding the Devil’s Mind

Satan is indeed very clever and wise. Since he wants to effectively deceive the most number of people without any question or opposition, he has obviously used the respected leaders of religion who will simply tell their followers to “just believe by faith” even if things don’t seem logical. And knowing that in the Christian world, all believers base their beliefs on the perceived absolute authority of the Bible — in Satan’s evil mind — what better way to achieve such massive deception than to corrupt their Bibles as well? And Satan is not too naïve not to take full advantage of this very effective “modus operandi” of deception.

Satan’s Hidden Strategy

Thus, let us always remember that Satan’s agenda over thousands of years now is to deceive all humanity (Revelation 12:9). And in his deceitful and destructive role as the present “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4), he has not arbitrarily set any limits or boundaries to any of his activities. Christ further said in effect that, Satan is the secret evil one who sowed bad seed in the field while men slept (Matthew 13:25). Therefore, in his cunning and secret ways, he has worked at all levels and in all areas of man’s endeavors, including noble (religious) ones. Being the ultimate evil that he is, it would therefore not be a surprise if he also secretly ventured into Bible translations and publications. But do we have any solid proof that he did not pass up this great and splendid opportunity to plant some deceptions through the centuries? Let us study this subject matter carefully, but certainly, one of his areas of focus and interest seems to be in planting supposedly biblical evidence to support the Trinity doctrine — since he always had that ambition to be the “third person” in the Godhead. Therefore, expect to see his written handiwork as it will be clearly exposed in this article.

But Is Satan Allowed to Tamper With God’s Words?

Some will ask, will God not prevent Satan from doing such evil? God certainly can, but He is also allowing some latitude in Satan’s actions to accomplish certain higher objectives not easily discerned by the human mind, like allowing Job to be severely tested and tried by Satan.

Since Satan is a very rebellious being (having his own free will), he has tried to do his own thing (of course, within God’s parameters).

In the Garden of Eden, Satan appeared as a serpent and quoted God’s words to Eve, but with an added lie, “You will not surely die” [meaning you already have an immortal soul]. Most of humanitybelieved that Satanic lie ever since (Genesis 3:1).

There was another incident when Satan tempted Christ, wherein he also quoted Scripture. The problem again is that Satan tampered by subtracting and adding words when he quoted from Psalms 91:11-12. The original rendering in the NKJ version reads:

“For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.”

Compare this with what Satan said as recorded in Matthew 4:6: (GNV and KJV are similar):

“And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.”

Notice the tampering: Satan first omitted “To keep you in all your ways” (meaning to always abide in God’s ways and thus be protected), and then addedthe words “at any time” (which is to tempt God). With this omission and addition, Satan tried to tempt even Christ Himself.

Knowing Satan’s deceptive tactics of tampering with God’s Words since the beginning of mankind at Eden (about 6,000 years ago), and even trying to tempt Christ Himself (about 2,000 years ago), do you think he is now better behaved? Let us see how Satan has more recently tampered with God’s written words as preserved in our Bibles today.

Satan’s Secret Agenda

As mentioned in the first article published in this series, Satan’s great and long-time agenda has always been to somehow insert himself surreptitiously as the “third god” or person in a mysterious “Trinity” doctrine. Since he is a “spirit,” he wants to be considered as “holy” to cover-up his evil nature. Thus he has coveted the name “Holy Ghost” (or Holy Spirit). Note his ambition to be “like” (H1819 Hebrew “damah”), which means to resemble, to make himself like, or become co-equal with God. This point was detailed in connection with Isaiah 14:14, in the first article published in this series.

Blatant Tampering of Scriptures Just to Include The “Holy Ghost” and Produce a Biblical Basis for The “Trinity” Doctrine

Notice the tampering which includes three verses in 1 John 5:6-8, which, thankfully, through critical Bible scholarship was discovered to be fake additions. Significantly, these fake additions can only be found in versions or by translators originally influenced by the Catholic Church like the Geneva Bible (GNV), the Douay-Rheims-ApocryphaBible (DRA), and the King James Bible. Please remember that the KJB or KJV was produced by selected clergy of the Church of England which have very similar rituals and beliefs as the Catholic Church of Rome. (Among modern versions, only the NKJ and the YLTcopied those fake additional verses.)

Notice These Tampered Verses in an Attempt to Support the Trinity Doctrine:

The tampering starts in 1 John 5:6 in these translations. Notice the variations in their renderings:

“And it is the Spirit which testifieth that Christ is the truth.” [DRA]

“The Spirit is the one that testifies, and the Spirit is truth.” [GNV, NAB]

“And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.” [ESV, KJV, NAU, NIV, NKJ, YLT]

Unlike the stated versions, both the NAS and the RSVdropped the last phrase (“because the Spirit is truth”) out of verse 6, and down into verse 7.

Let Us Now Notice Verses 7 and 8:

NOTE: The words in bold italic font are original, while those in normal italic font were deceitfully added as found in the KJV. This is also found in the DRA, GNV, NJK, and YLT.

For there are three that bear recordin heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth:the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three agree in one.
~1 John 5:7-8, KJV

“these three are one” [DRA] (promotes the Trinity idea)

“these three agree” [ESV, RSV]

“these three agree in one” [GNV, KJV] (promotes the Trinity idea)

“these three are united” [HRB] (Hebrew Roots Bible)

“the three are of one accord” [NAB]

“the three are in agreement” [NAS, NAU, NIV, ISR] (Institute for Scriptural Research)

“these three agree as one” [NKJ]

“and all agree” [NLT]

“the three are into the one” [YLT] (promotes the Trinity idea)

In summary, the fake additional wordsare: “…in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth…”

Please observe that surprisingly, in bothheavenandearth, only the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) is consistentlyalways mentioned in the totality of verses 7 and 8; plus the mysterious statement “these three are one” [DRA]. Why?

Compare This Rendering With The Correct (Untampered) Version:

For there are three that testify: [ESV, NAB, NAU] the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in “agreement” [ISR, NAS, NAU, NIV; “agree” ESV, RSV, NLT].~1 John 5:7-8

Why Is “Water” And “Blood” Mentioned in Verse 8?

“The point of the verse is that John is dealing with Gnostics who did not believe Yahshua [Jesus] was born in the flesh [mortal], and John was showing that… at His birth [through the virgin Miriam (Mary)] … Yahshua was born through water and blood [elements that always accompany all human birth], and at His death the soldier stabbed Him in the side and water and blood came out [demonstrating His true humanity]. Also, the Spirit is the third witness of His human birth as He was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18), at His baptism the spirit came upon Him (Matthew 3:16) and at His death He gave up the Spirit (Matthew 27:50).
~Commentary/Footnote on1 John 5:8; Hebrew Roots Bible (A Literal Translation), with Study notes, Word of Truth Publications, 2012] (Emphasis added)

Notice the Authoritative Commentaries On 1 John 5:7-8

…The words are not found in any Greek Manuscript before the sixteenth century. They were first seen in the margin of some Latin copies. Thence they have crept into the text.~The E. W. Bullinger Companion Bible, Zondervan Bible Publishers, page 1876

…But the addition is not found in any Greek manuscript or NT Translation prior to the 16th century.~The NIV Study Bible, Zondervan Publishing House, Footnote on page 2472

(Notice that Authorized Version includes additional material at this point. But the words are clearly a gloss and are rightly excluded by RSV even from the margins.)~The New Bible Commentary Revised, Guthrie & Motyer, Editors, 1970, page 1269

…Textual criticism has done a service in excising 5:7 of the AV. The Three Heavenly Witnesses appear in no Gk. MS before the 15th century. The latter part of v. 6 was moved up by the Revisers to make the new v.7.~The International Bible Commentary, F.F. Bruce, General Editor, page 1584

The later Latin manuscripts erroneously added a verse that states there are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the word, and the Spirit. This verse is not in the Aramaic and is also not in any early Greek manuscript, but clearly a forgery that was added later.~Biblical Roots Bible, Word of Truth Publications, 2012, Footnote, page 1404

Exegetical Biblical Conclusion:

Since in the correct version, the words: “the Father and the Word” are notincluded in verse 7; and since in verse 8, only “the spirit, the water, and the blood” are stated to be “in agreement” [NAS, NAU, NIV]; and since these three elements fall under just onecategory; it is simply inappropriate to create a “Trinity” to be worshipped out of these three stated elements, which includes water and blood. (Why would anyone worship waterandblood?) Thus, the Trinity doctrine cannot be supported by these tampered verses.

Now, on to another blatant tampering of the Scriptures…

Does Matthew 28:19 Support the Doctrine of the Trinity?

While most Christians heavily rely on this verse as another strong pillar to support the Trinity doctrine, unknown to them is the hidden and sad fact that, Matthew 28:19 has also been secretlytamperedlong time ago. How did this happen, and what are the facts? Read the full documentation and irrevocable proofs contained in this article.

First, the Campaign to Destroy Copies of Sacred Writings:

The most vigorous campaign was during the reign of Emperor Diocletian who ruled from A.D. 284-305. This was described as “The Diocletianic Persecution (303–11), the empire’s last, largest, and bloodiest official persecution of Christianity…”

Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, a fourth-century church historian writes:

I saw with mine own eyes the houses of prayer thrown down and razed to their foundations, and the inspired and sacred Scriptures consigned to the fire in the open market place.
~Translated from Historia Ecclesiastica, viii 2

Here is a collaborating testimony:

One of the reasons why no early MSS [manuscripts] have been discovered is that they were, when found, burned by the persecutors of the Christians.
~Dr. Brooke Foss Westcott, General Survey of the History of the Canon of the New Testament, p. 383

Taking advantage of the fact that most of the ancient scrolls and manuscripts were confiscated and publicly burned, the attempt by some to tamper with any existing sacred writings and to reproduce them (uncontested) became much easier. However, Eusebius himself claims that he [through God’s help?] was somehow able to take possession of an early copy of Matthew’s Gospel. In it, he clearly observed that it did not have the triune baptismal formula; while others began to propagate a new version with a triune baptismal formula very much later. Following is a historical document on this:

Excerpts from the book, “Textual Criticism of the New Testament” by F. C. Conybeare:

“It is clear… that the [Matthew] MSS [manuscripts] which Eusebius inherited from his predecessor, Pamphilus, at Caesarea in Palestine … [has] no mention either of Baptism or of ‘the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.’”

“Eusebius cites this text again and again in his works written between 300 and 336 … in his long commentaries… and in his Demonstratio Evangelica… after a moderate search in these works of Eusebius, [author] found eighteen citationsof Matthew xxviii. 19, and always in the following form: “Go ye and make disciples of all the nations in my name, teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I commanded you.” [Emphasis added]

Other excerpts from the book: “A History of The Christian Church” published in 1953, by Williston Walker, former Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Yale University:

On page 61, commenting on Matthew 28:19. “This [added] text is the first man-made Roman Catholic Creed that was the prototype for the later Apocryphal Apostles’ Creed…” [Emphasis added]

On page 95: “With the early disciples… baptism was “in the name of Jesus Christ.” There is no mention of baptism in the name of the Trinity… except in the command attributed to Christ in Matthew 28:19. That text is… not the original…” [Emphasis added]

“The spurious [fake] Catholic text of Matthew 28:19 was invented to support the newer triune, Trinity doctrine… Therefore, it is the great Catholic hoax! … is missing from the old manuscripts of Sinaiticus, Curetonianus and Bobiensis.” [Emphasis added]

Excerpts from the book: “Doctrine and Practice in the Early Church” published in 1992, by Dr. Stuart G. Hall, former Chair of Ecclesiastical History at King’s College, London, England.

On pages 20 and 21, he states that “the Catholic Trinitarian Baptism was not the original form of Christian Baptism… More common and perhaps more ancient was the simple, “In the name of the Lord Jesus…” [Emphasis added]

Other Authoritative Testimonial Evidence:

Catholic Encyclopedia

“The threefold immersion is unquestionably very ancient in the [Catholic] Church. …Its object is, of course, to honor the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity in whose name it is conferred.” — (Vol. 2, page 262) [Emphasis added]

“The basic form of our (Trinitarian Matthew 28:19) profession of faith took shape during the course of the second and third centuries in connection with the ceremony of baptism. So far as its place of origin is concerned, the text (Matthew 28:19) came from the city of Rome.” — Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), Introduction to Christianity, 1968 Edition, pp. 82, 83. [Emphasis added].

(NOTE: The Trinitarian baptism and text of Matthew 28:19 therefore did not originate from the original apostolic Church in Jerusalem, but was a later invention of the Roman Church.)

Bible Catechism

Only in the 4th Century did the formula “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” become customary.” — (Bible Catechism, Rev. John C Kersten, S.V.D., Catholic Book Publishing Co., N.Y., N.Y.; 1973, p. 164) [Emphasis added]

The Jerusalem Bible, A Scholarly Catholic Work, states:

“This formula, (Triune in Matthew 28:19) so far as the fullness of its expression is concerned, is perhaps a reflection of the liturgical usage established later in the primitive (Catholic) community. It will be remembered that Acts speaks of baptizing “in the name of Jesus [only].” [Emphasis added]

New Revised Standard Version (Footnote)

“Modern critics claim this formula is falsely ascribed to Jesus and that it represents later (Catholic) church tradition, for nowhere in the book of Acts (or any other book of the Bible) is baptism performed with the name of the Trinity…” [Emphasis added]

Dr. Robert Young’s Literal Translation

In his Literal Translation of the Bible, Dr. Robert Young places the triune name in Matthew 28:19, 20 in parentheses, thus indicating the words to be of doubtful authenticity.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, Page 2637, Under “Baptism,” it says:

“Matthew 28:19 in particular only canonizes a later ecclesiastical situation, that its universalism is contrary to the facts of early Christian history, and its Trinitarian formula (is) foreign to the mouth of Jesus.” [Emphasis added]

The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Vol. I, Page 275:

“It is often affirmed that the words in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost are not the ipsissima verba [exact words] of Jesus, but…a later liturgical addition.” [Emphasis added]

“The obvious explanation of the silence of the New Testament on the triune name (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), and the use of another formula in Acts and Paul (baptism in Christ’s name alone), is that this other formula was the earlier, and that the triune formula is a later addition.” (Emphasis added)

Hastings Dictionary Of The Bible, 1963, Page 1015 (Excerpts):

“The Trinity…is not demonstrable by logic or by Scriptural proofs… The term Trias was first used by Theophilus of Antioch (c AD 180)… (The term Trinity) is not found in Scripture…” “The chief Trinitarian text in the NT is the baptismal formula in Mt 28:19…This late post-resurrection saying, not found in any other Gospel or anywhere else in the NT, has been viewed by some scholars as an interpolation [insertion] into Matthew… It is doubtless better to view the (Trinitarian) formula as derived from early (Catholic) Christian, perhaps Syrian or Palestinian, baptismal usage (cf. Didache 7:1-4), and as a brief summary of the (Catholic) Church’s teaching about God, Christ, and the Spirit…”

“1. To some, perplexity, and even distress, is caused by the apparent neglect of the disciples to carry out the Lord’s command in Matt. 28:19,20, with regards to the formula of baptism… then turning to Acts and onwards, they find no single instance of, or reference to, baptism in which the Triune name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is employed…” [Emphasis added]

“2. On the contrary… only ten days after the (supposed) injunction had been given, Peter is found (in Acts 2:38) commanding all his hearers including those of the dispersion (the diaspora) to be baptized… in the name of Jesus Christ…” [Emphasis added]

“3. In all the other places where the act of baptism is mentioned… the formula by implication is the same [not the trinitarian form]. These are: Acts 8:38; 9:18 (and Acts 22:16); Acts 16:15, 33; 18:8…

“6. To hold, as some do, that the disciples had “forgotten”, or were “ignorant of”, or else “ignored” the express command of the Lord, is to charge those spirit endowed men with either incompetence or insubordination!” [Emphasis added]

Apart from these numerous pieces of evidence already presented here, listed as a BIBLIOGRAPHY are 42 OTHER references at the end of this article, all unanimously stating that indeed Matthew 28:19 has been tampered:

The PROOFS Of Internal Biblical Evidence

While the citations from Encyclopedias and other authoritative works are already too numerous to ignore, and solid enough in its credibility, we can further substantiate and bolster those facts through internal biblical evidence. Following are some of these:

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38).

(NOTE: Please remember that this event was during the first Pentecost, soon after Christ’s resurrection, but notice that Peter’s statement never included the triune formula [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit], which many erroneously believe was a direct command of Christ when doing baptism.)

Notice further that Peter said: “There is none other name [singular] under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). (NOTE: The Trinity was not even hinted or alluded to here.]

Notice also that Luke’s parallel account (to Matthews 28) on the final instructions of Christ to His disciples before He ascended up to heaven, did not mention any form of trinitarian baptism:

“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preachedin His name [singular] to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47)

Notice likewise that Paul’s SYMBOLISM of baptism did not involve the Trinity concept:

“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus [no mention of Father and Holy Spirit here] were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him [singular] through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,” (Romans 6:3-5)

Likewise, Paul’s general instruction to the Colossians, and by implication to all believers was:

“Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” (Colossians 3:17).

(NOTE: Baptism obviously falls in this category as well, using only the name of Christ.)

Testing the Consistency of one verse in Comparison with another similar biblical verse:

IFMatthew 28:19 is thecorrect standard for all baptisms, which reads: “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”; to be truly and faithfully CONSISTENT, Colossians 2:12 should therefore also be RE-WORDED to read thus:

Colossians 2:12 “Buried with the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, in baptism, wherein also you are risen with them through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised them from the dead.”

(NOTE: Did you notice that it sounds absurd, illogical, and false? Of course, we know that the Father nor His Spirit did not and cannot die.) Rather, the inspired translation reads:

Colossians 2:12 “Buried with him [Christ] in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead.”

Therefore, the correct reading of Matthew 28:18-20 should be:

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore, and make disciples of all the nations in my Name,” [omit the added trinitarian words]

Matthew 28:20 “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

NOTE: Here is the proper hermeneutical analysis. Since “all authority in heaven and earth has already beengiven to Christ,” His command now is for them to therefore “go in His Name” and make disciples of all nations, [logically what immediately follows in the making of disciples is to] teach themto observeall that Christ commanded them…” [The topic of the procedure of baptism is completely out from the immediate context here of making disciples.]

FACT: THERE IS NO RECORDED BAPTISM IN THE ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT WHERE THE NAMES OF THE TRINITY WERE EVER INVOLVED.

ALL the recorded New Testament Baptisms were all done in Christ’s name only:

Summary

1. The Catholic Church confesses to adding those words to support the Trinity doctrine.

2. Many historians and theologians document that indeed the change was done by the Catholic Church.

3. None of the original apostles ever followed the supposed Trinitarian formula of baptism.

4. Historical evidence in the New Testament consistently records baptisms in Christ’s name only.

5. Eusebius testifies that in the original Matthew version, baptism was in Christ’s name only.

This topic on the Holy Spirit and the Trinity comes as a 3-Part series of articles, with the goal of properly understanding the true identity and role of the Holy Spirit from a biblical standpoint.

In SUMMARY, the Holy Spirit is the “Power of the Highest” (Luke 1:35); and since it is sent by the Father (John 14:26) and is also sent by the Son (John 16:7b), it is thus being sent by both of Them (John 15:26), so therefore, it is a shared Power from both of Them (Romans 8:9: Galatians 4:6); in which case, the best term to describe the Holy Spirit in this regard is to consider it as the Spirit of the Godhead (which is composed of both the Father and the Son); or simply, “The Spirit or Power of God.”

Those truly interested in objectively understanding the real truth on this complex subject (and even understanding all the possible objections and questions), are encouraged to read ALL three published installments. Readers are requested to view this subject, both from its historical standpoint and also from the total perspective of the whole Bible. The common problem is that most people tend to have a myopic view of making a conclusive stand based mostly on a single or a few isolated verses (and ignoring the rest), and the selected verse or verses may just have been a mistake by some translators, or from the translator’s lack of proper knowledge and understanding, or it may even have been an outright manipulation by some to support a certain doctrinal agenda (as has just been exposed in this article).

Conclusion

This series of three articles documented the true identity of the Holy Spirit. And this third installment has shown the blatant tamperingof Matthew 28:19, as well as 1 John 5:6-8 in a desperate effort to try to provide a biblical basis to support the unbiblical doctrine of the “Trinity.”

However, the Bible itself warns us that we should not add or subtract from what is inspired by God to be written in the Scriptures, and this command is clearly stated in both the Hebrew Writings (Old Testament), and in the Apostolic Writings (New Testament). Not only is there a command against doing that, but there is a severe penalty for such tampering (Deuteronomy 12:32; Revelation 22:18-19).

Let us, therefore, strive to have the keenness of mind, and by God’s help be able to sift the wheat from the tares (which look alike), and be able to rightly divide (discern) the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

Now that you have thoroughly read through all the three installments in this well-documented series of articles, and have witnessed the clever deceptions of Satan upon humanity, the burden of proper action is now upon you. What will you do with the new knowledge you have just gained? You answer to God for that and ask for His next leading steps upon you. Meanwhile, if you have any particular concerns or questions, please feel free to contact us for further assistance or enlightenment.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

42 Other Authoritative References stating that the “Triune” text inserted into Matthew 28:19 was a fake addition to the verse:

Do You Have A Question?

Do you have a question about life, God, Jesus Christ, the Bible, or any aspect of Christian doctrine or practice? Do you need help in correctly understanding a Bible verse or passage? Are there any spiritual issues in your life for which you need counsel or advice? Please feel free to email us at .